Desolation

This is the land and city of Desolation. The land Desolation was northward of the Land Bountiful and the narrow pass. The land Desolation was southward of the land of Teancum, land of Boaz, and land northward. The land Desolation is next to the Sea West. The city Desolation was on the shores of the Sea West. The land Desolation was in proximity to Lehi's first landing in the Promised Land (I Nephi). The land Desolation is near the land of Moron.

Commentaries (view it on a map)

ALMA 13:74 [22:30]: And it bordered upon the land which they called Desolation; it being so far northward, that it came into the land which had been peopled, and been destroyed, of whose bones we have spoken, which was discovered by the people of Zarahemla; it being the place of their first landing. And they came from there up into the south wilderness.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Bountiful, Desolation, the narrow neck, Nephi, the Promised Land (I Nephi), the Sea West, and the South Wilderness. The term 'it' refers to the northern parts of the land mentioned in Alma 13:73 [22:29]. The northern parts of the land bordered the land Desolation and the land Bountiful. The phrase 'it came into the land which had been peopled, and been destroyed, of whose bones we have spoken' refers to the people described in the Book of Ether (the Jaredites). The Jaredites lived in the lands in the narrow neck indicating that the northern parts of the land extended to the narrow neck. This also places the land Desolation next to lands of the Jaredites in the narrow neck. This verse does not define the location of the bones, just where the people (the Jaredites) lived whose bones were found in the Land Cumorah. The phrase 'it being the place of their first landing' is the description of the Promised Land (I Nephi) and indicates that Lehi landed on the Sea West shore near the land Desolation. The phrase 'came from there up into the south wilderness' describes the journey in II Nephi 4:10 [5:7] of Nephi and his people from the Promised Land (I Nephi) to the land of Nephi which required traveling through the South Wilderness. The phrase 'up into' indicates the South Wilderness is higher in elevation than the Promised Land (I Nephi), a somewhat obvious reference since the Promised land (I Nephi) was on the seashore. But, it does show consistency in the use of the term 'up' to indicate a higher terrain elevation.

ALMA 13:75 [22:31]: Thus the land on the northward was called Desolation, and the land on the southward was called Bountiful; it being the wilderness which is filled with all manner of wild animals of every kind; a part of which had come from the land northward, for food.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Bountiful, Desolation, the land northward, and the wilderness around Bountiful. This verse places the land Desolation northward of the land Bountiful. There is a wilderness in or around the land Bountiful. The phrase 'land on the northward' does not describe the land northward, but rather the land Desolation just being located northward of the land Bountiful. This is parallel grammar construction the same as the 'land north' referring to the land of Mulek and the 'land south' referring to the land of Lehi. This verse describes the land northward as being close enough to the wilderness around the land Bountiful for animals to migrate from the land northward to the land Bountiful in search of food.

ALMA 13:76 [22:32]: And now it was only the distance of a day and a half's journey for a Nephite, on the line Bountiful, and the land Desolation, from the east to the west sea;

Commentary: This verse references the places of Bountiful, Desolation, the narrow neck, the Sea East, and the Sea West. This verse does not directly mention the Sea East. The literal interpretation is that a Nephite can journey from a point on the east to the Sea West in a day and a half. This verse also does not infer that the Nephite is traveling by foot or that the point on the east is the Sea East. Parts of the journey could have been made by canoe on a river. Refer to Appendix D for notable world records for running and paddling. Given the conditions for the Nephite were not as optimal as the record setting conditions, the maximum distance expressed by this verse is no more than about 200 miles.

ALMA 13:78 [22:33]: And it came to pass that the Nephites had inhabited the land Bountiful, even from the east unto the west sea,

Commentary: This verse references the places of Bountiful, Desolation, the Sea East, and the Sea West. The land Bountiful was in control by the Nephites. They were living on the line between the land Bountiful and land Desolation, from the Sea West to a point east. The term 'east' refers to a point on the east and does not directly refer to the Sea East.

ALMA 22:35 [50:34]: And it came to pass that they did not head them, until they had come to the borders of the land Desolation: and there they did head them, by the narrow pass which led by the sea into the land northward; yea, by the sea, on the west, and on the east.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Desolation, the land northward, the narrow pass, the Sea East, and the Sea West. The term 'they' refers to an army sent by Moroni to stop Morianton and his people from going to the land northward. The term 'them' refers to Morianton and his people. Morianton was coming from the land of Morianton and moving towards the land Desolation. The land Desolation is by the Sea West, so the phrase 'narrow pass which led by the sea' indicates the narrow pass is also by the Sea West. The phrase 'yea, by the sea' modifies the object directly in front of the term 'yea'. So, the land northward is by the sea. The phrase 'on the west, and on the east' is difficult to interpret. On the one hand, phrases after a 'yea' term describe the phrases in front of the 'yea' term. So, 'by the sea' describes 'the land northward'. The phrase 'on the west' describes 'they did head them' indicating they were headed on the west parts of the land. The phrase 'on the east' describes 'the borders of the land Desolation' indicating the eastern border of the land Desolation. The phraseology in the Book of Mormon is not conclusive about how to interpret clauses that are not immediately in front or behind a 'yea' term. The phrase 'on the west, and on the east' could also mean that Teancum had split his army into a west part and an east part to protect the entire entrance to the narrow pass. Neither interpretation really contradicts the other nor adds unique information about the relative locations of the geography.

ALMA 30:6 [63:5]: And it came to pass that Hagoth, he being an exceeding curious man, therefore he went forth, and built him an exceeding large ship, on the borders of the land Bountiful, by the land Desolation, and launched it forth into the west sea, by the narrow neck which led into the land northward.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Bountiful, Desolation, the land northward, the narrow neck, the narrow pass, and the Sea West. The land Bountiful borders the land Desolation at a point in the narrow neck by the west sea. It also implies that the land Bountiful is located in the area referred to as the narrow neck. The land Desolation is by the Sea West. The land northward is far enough from the narrow neck to warrant going there by ship rather than over land. The phrase 'into the land northward' indicates that the land northward is outside the area defined as the narrow neck. That a ship is needed to get to the land northward indicates the land northward is not close to the narrow neck; its boundary did not begin just northward of the narrow neck.

ALMA 30:10 [63:7]: And the first ship did also return, and many more people did enter into it; and they also took much provisions, and set out again to the land northward.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Bountiful, Desolation, the land northward, the narrow neck, and the Sea West. Hagoth's ship went to the land northward and returned in less than a year. The borders of land Bountiful and the land Desolation by the narrow neck by the west sea was the port for the ship. The phrase 'to the land northward' indicates that the land northward did not border the narrow neck and did not include the land Desolation (which did border the narrow neck).

HELAMAN 2:4 [3:4]: And they did travel to an exceeding great distance, insomuch that they came to large bodies of water, and many rivers;

Commentary: This verse references the places of Desolation, land Northward, waters of Ripliancum, and Zarahemla. The term 'they' refers to people from the land of Zarahemla. People were leaving the land of Zarahemla to go to the land northward. The term 'bodies' is plural, so there were at least two large bodies of water (lakes) and many rivers near, or in, the land northward. No fountains are mentioned in the description. The land Northward is northward of the land of Zarahemla by an 'exceeding great distance'. It is interesting to note that the land northward has at least one large body of water and that the Jaredites a few hundred years before the Nephites describe in the Book of Ether a large body of water in the northernmost parts of their land as the waters of Ripliancum.

HELAMAN 2:39 [4:6]: And the Nephites, and the armies of Moronihah, were driven even into the land of Bountiful; and there they did fortify against the Lamanites, from the west sea, even unto the east; it being a day's journey for a Nephite, on the line which they had fortified and stationed their armies to defend their north country.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Bountiful, Desolation, the north country, and the Sea West. The land Bountiful went from the west sea (Sea West) to a point on the east that is a day's journey from the Sea West. There is no distinct location given for the point on the east. The line of fortification was not the entire width of the narrow neck. Alma 13:76 [22:32] gives a longer distance for the narrow neck as a journey of a day and a half. The north country is located in the same area as the land Bountiful.

III NEPHI 2:32 [3:23]: And the land which was appointed was the land of Zarahemla and the land which was between the land of Zarahemla and the land Bountiful; yea, to the line which was between the land Bountiful and the land Desolation;

Commentary: This verse references the places of Bountiful, Desolation, the land southward, the narrow neck, the Sea East, the Sea West, the one place, and Zarahemla. The 'one place' in III Nephi 2:17 [3:13] is described here. It is a land between the land of Zarahemla and 'the line which was between the land Bountiful and the land Desolation'. The line between the land Desolation and land Bountiful describes the narrow neck between the Sea West and the Sea East. In III Nephi 2:34 [3:24], this one place is called the land southward. This description of the land southward defines the northward boundary of the land southward as the narrow neck. The southward boundary of the land southward is northward of the land of Zarahemla. So, the land southward is an area between the land of Zarahemla and the land Bountiful.

MORMON 1:69 [3:5]: And it came to pass that I did cause my people that they should gather themselves together at the land Desolation, to a city which was in the borders, by the narrow pass which led into the land southward.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Desolation, the land southward, and the narrow pass. The term 'I' refers to Mormon. The narrow pass is in the borders of the land Desolation. The land southward is southward of the land Desolation. This places the narrow pass between the land Desolation and the land southward, so the land Desolation is just north of the narrow pass. The phrase 'which led into' indicates the narrow pass is near the land southward but not in the land southward. The phrase 'into' indicates that the land southward had a boundary that distinguished what was inside and outside of the land southward.

MORMON 1:70 [3:6]: And there we did place our armies, that we might stop the armies of the Lamanites, that they might not get possession of any of our lands; therefore we did fortify against them with all our force.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Desolation, the land northward, and the narrow pass. The term 'we' refers to Mormon and his people. The city in the land Desolation where Mormon was defending the narrow pass is in a strategic spot to defend. So, the narrow pass is in a strategic spot. This verse also indicates that the narrow pass is key to preventing the armies of the Lamanites from getting to their lands (the land northward). There is no other way to get to the land northward except through the narrow pass.

MORMON 1:71 [3:7]: And it came to pass that in the three hundred and sixty and first year, the Lamanites did come down to the city of Desolation to battle against us; and it came to pass that in that year, we did beat them, insomuch that they did return to their own lands again.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Desolation and the Sea West. The term 'us' refers to Mormon and the Nephites. The phrase 'come down' indicates that the city of Desolation is lower in elevation than where the Lamanites came from. This confirms that the city of Desolation is very near the seashore as further explained in Mormon 1:73 [3:8].

MORMON 1:73 [3:8]: And we did beat them again, and did slay a great number of them, and their dead were cast into the sea.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Desolation and the Sea West. The term 'we' refers to Mormon and the Nephites. The term 'them' refers to the Lamanites. The city of Desolation is located in close proximity to the sea. The sea would be the Sea West. This verse also places the land Desolation next to the seashore.

MORMON 2:1 [4:1]: And now it came to pass that in the three hundred and sixty and third year, the Nephites did go up with their armies to battle against the Lamanites, out of the land of Desolation.

Commentary: This verse references the place of Desolation. The Lamanites were in a location just outside the land of Desolation. The phrase 'go up' indicates that the Lamanites were higher in elevation than the land of Desolation. Given that the land of Desolation is near the seashore, they were likely traveling away from the seashore.

MORMON 2:3 [4:2]: And while they were yet weary, a fresh army of the Lamanites did come upon them; and they had a sore battle, insomuch that the Lamanites did take possession of the city Desolation, and did slay many of the Nephites, and did take many prisoners; and the remainder did flee and join the inhabitants of the city Teancum.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Desolation and Teancum. The term 'they' refers to the armies of the Nephites. The city Teancum is near the city Desolation and probably to the north in the direction away from the Lamanites.

MORMON 2:4 [4:3]: Now the city Teancum lay in the borders by the seashore; and it was also near the city Desolation.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Desolation, the Sea West, and Teancum. Since the land Desolation is by the Sea West shore, this verse places the city Teancum by the Sea West shore.

MORMON 2:10 [4:8]: And when the Nephites saw that they had driven the Lamanites, they did again boast of their own strength: and they went forth in their own might, and took possession again of the city Desolation.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Desolation and Teancum. The phrase 'went forth' refers to the Nephites coming from the city of Teancum to the city Desolation. The city of Teancum is in proximity to the city Desolation.

MORMON 2:15 [4:13]: And it came to pass that the Lamanites did take possession of the city Desolation, and this because their number did exceed the number of the Nephites.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Desolation and Teancum. The next city taken by the Lamanites is the city Teancum. The continual warfare between the land Desolation and the city Teancum indicates these two places are located next to each other.

MORMON 2:16 [4:14]: And they did also march forward against the city Teancum, and did drive the inhabitants forth out of her, and did take many prisoners, both women and children, and did offer them up as sacrifices unto their idol gods.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Desolation and Teancum. The term 'they' refers to the Lamanites located in the city Desolation. The warfare is occurring between the city Desolation and the city of Teancum. The continual references of warfare between these two locations would indicate the land of Teancum is next to the land Desolation.

MORMON 2:21 [4:19]: And it came to pass that the Lamanites did come down against the city Desolation; and there was an exceeding sore battle fought in the land Desolation, in the which they did beat the Nephites.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Desolation and the Sea West. The phrase 'come down' indicates the Lamanites came from a location that is higher in elevation than the city Desolation. With the city Desolation located near the Sea West shore, any place would be higher in elevation than the city Desolation. This verse also enforces the practice that a land contains a city with the same name.

MORMON 2:22 [4:20]: And they fled again from before them, and they came to the city Boaz; and there they did stand against the Lamanites with exceeding boldness, insomuch that the Lamanites did not beat them until they had come again the second time.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Boaz, Desolation, and Teancum. The term 'they' refers to the Nephites. The term 'them' refers to the Lamanites. The Nephites were fleeing from the city Desolation and came to the city Boaz. The Lamanites were coming from the south. So, the city Boaz is northward of the city Desolation. The land of Teancum is next to the land Desolation on the northward side of the land Desolation, so the city Boaz is either northward of the land of Teancum or in another direction (more eastward) from the city Desolation than the land of Teancum. Given the number of times the Nephites had successfully defended the city of Teancum, the city Boaz may be northeast of the city Desolation.

ETHER 3:43 [7:6]: Now the land of Moron where the king dwelt, was near the land which is called Desolation by the Nephites.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Desolation and Moron. The phrase 'was near' means the land of Moron is next to the land Desolation. Since the land Desolation is by the Sea West, the land of Moron had to be either north, east, or south of the land Desolation because the Sea West is to the west of the land Desolation.

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